Welcome to Skagit County
September 27th, 2006
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRADUATES FIRST EVER SPANISH LANGUAGE CERT COURSE CLASS IN STATE HISTORY
SKAGIT COUNTY – The first ever Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class conducted in Spanish in the State of Washington will graduate tomorrow in a brief ceremony at the Skagit County Department of Emergency Management office at 2911 College Way in Mount Vernon at 6:00 p.m. CERT training is designed to prepare individuals to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster.
The first ever Spanish CERT Class of 22 students will receive their certificates from Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Watkinson and Lead Instructor Carlos Bejar. “Carlos has done an absolute fantastic job,” said Watkinson.
CERT training involves approximately 21 hours of classroom and hands-on training in the following areas:
- Disaster Preparedness
- Disaster Medical Operations
- Disaster Psychology
- Disaster Fire Suppression
- Light Search and Rescue
- CERT Team Organization
This is just the first CERT class to be taught in Spanish, according to Watkinson. “We have signed up 58 more people who would like to take the class.”
Any adult or teen at least 16 years old with the desire to help save lives and protect property within their community immediately following a disaster event should consider taking the course, according to Watkinson.
To sign up for a CERT class, call the Skagit County Department of Emergency Management at 360-428-3250.
For further information,
contact: Mark Watkinson
360-428-3250